First-aid and emergency preparedness kit bag

ABSTRACT

A kit may be a first-aid kit or an emergency preparedness kit. The kit includes contents that are selected for a specific application for which the kit is intended. The contents of the kit will vary based on the intended application. The kit includes a bag which is flexible and relatively small such that it can be conveniently stored in a variety of locations and, in particular, in locations associated with the particular activity for which the kit in intended. The kit can be self-standing to be easily displayed in an upright position or displayed from a hanger.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/242,629 filed on Sep. 15, 2009.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a kit and more particularly to an application-specific kit and related method.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. This section also provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

Conventional kits are sold and marketed for use in treating an injury and/or for use during an emergency, generally. Such kits typically include a series of bandages, gauze, and medication suitable for use in treating various injuries and/or medical conditions. The various components of the kit are grouped and stored within a container and, once grouped within the container, are generally referred to as a “first-aid” or “emergency preparedness” kit.

The container housing the various components of a conventional kit is typically a hard-walled structure that may be stored in a readily accessible area of a household or business or may be mounted to a wall of a common area of a household or business for quick access to the contents of the container. Because conventional kits are generic and may be used in virtually any household or business, conventional kits often include bandages of varying size and shape to accommodate a wide range of applications. Likewise, such kits often include a myriad of medications and other products in an effort to provide the kit with the ability to address a wide range of injuries and/or medical conditions.

Conventional kits are not application-specific and, as a result, are typically cumbersome and oftentimes include a large container to accommodate a wide range of products designed to address numerous injuries and/or medical conditions. Due to the overall size and construction of a conventional kit, conventional kits are typically not suitable for everyday transport in a small bag such as a purse or backpack and are not designed for a particular application or use.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a kit in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a layout showing the construction of the bag used in the kit of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8A-17B are front and back views of the indicia of the kit of FIG. 1 when in the form of a first-aid kit identifying the contents of the kit;

FIGS. 18A-21B are front and back views of the kit of FIG. 1 when in the form of a fundraising first-aid kit identifying the contents of the kit; and

FIGS. 22A-25B are front and back views of the kit of FIG. 1 when in the form of an emergency preparedness kit identifying the contents of the kit.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

With reference to the figures, a kit 100 is provided and includes a flexible bag 102 with contents therein that are selected for a particular application which kit 100 is intended. Bag 102 includes a front side 104, a back side 106, a top 108, and a bottom 110. A pair of edges 112, 114 extends from bottom 110 to top 108 and separate front and back sides 104, 106. Front and back sides 104, 106 are adjacent one another along top 108 and edges 112, 114. Front and back sides 104, 106 are spaced apart from one another along bottom 110. As a result, an interior cavity 116 is formed within bag 102 to allow storage of contents therein, as described below. Bottom 110 forms a gusset 118 that maintains front and back sides 104, 106 spaced apart from one another and allows bag 102 to stand upright on a surface, such as a shelf. Gusset 118 is formed during the manufacturing of bag 102, as described below.

Bag 102 includes a hanger opening 120 adjacent top 108. Hanger opening 120 facilitates the displaying of kit 100 in a retail store. The inclusion of hanger opening 120 advantageously facilitates the display of kit 100 at a point of purchase location, such as the checkout area, of a store. Thus, the inclusion of hanger opening 120 and bottom 110 having a gusset 118 allows kit 100 to be displayed by either standing upright on a surface, such as a shelf, or hanging from a hook or other device through hanger opening 120.

Kit 100 includes a resealable mechanism 124 that allows kit 100 to be resealed after opening. Resealable mechanism 124 can be a Ziploc® brand resealable mechanism and the like, by way of non-limiting example. Resealable mechanism 124 is disposed adjacent the top portion of bag 102 thereby allowing a user to remove and replace contents of kit 100 from interior cavity 116 of bag 102.

Front and back sides 104, 108 are sealed together along top 108 and edges 112, 114 and are sealed to bottom 110. As such, kit 100 is a fluid-tight kit that can maintain the contents within kit 100 dry and in a useable condition regardless of the conditions exterior to bag 102.

Bag 102 can include a notch 128 on one or both edges 112, 114 adjacent top 108. Notches 128 facilitate the removal of the top portion of bag 102 to allow access to interior cavity 116 by a user. Notches 128 are located above resealable mechanism 124 such that after the top portion of bag 102 is removed kit 100 can be sealed again by use of resealable mechanism 124.

Front side 104 and back side 106 can include areas 126 for indicia indicative of the intended use of the kit along with the contents therein. Additionally, a transparent window 130 can be included so that the contents of kit 100 can be seen through bag 102. The particular indicia on each bag 102 will vary depending upon the intended use or audience of kit 100 and the contents therein. In some embodiments, kit 100 is a first-aid kit and includes contents that facilitate the rendering of first aid. The particular contents will vary depending upon the intended user for a particular kit 100.

The contents of kit 100 when used as a first-aid kit can include bandages, dressings and tape, wipes and ointments, and medication and instruments, by way of non-limiting example. The bandages may include plastic, fabric, knuckle, fingertip, butterfly, elbow/knee, and patch bandages, by way of non-limiting example. The dressings may include gauze, conforming gauze rolls, and trauma pads, by way of non-limiting example. The tape may include first-aid tape, by way of non-limiting example. The wipes may include antiseptic cleansing wipes/towelletes, alcohol cleansing wipes, insect sting relief pads, castile soap towelletes, and the like, by way of non-limiting example. The ointments may include first aid/burn cream, antibiotic ointment packets, hand sanitizer, hydrocortisone, sunscreen, lip ointment, burn gel, and the like, by way of non-limiting example. The medications may include non-aspirin tablets, Ibuprofen, moleskin pads, and the like, by way of non-limiting example. The instruments may include safety pins, vinyl gloves, cotton tip applicators, instant cold compresses, and the like, by way of non-limiting example. Additionally, each kit 100 may also include a first-aid guide providing basic first-aid instructions to a user to facilitate the administration of first aid and usage of the contents of the kit 100.

The kits 100 can be configured for particular applications, uses, jobs, and the like and the contents therein may correspond to likely materials that may be necessary in the event of an injury. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a handyman kit and include contents that can provide first aid to the injuries and/or medical conditions that are likely to occur when doing simple chores around the house using tools and the like. As shown in FIGS. 9A and B, kit 100 can be configured as an outdoor first-aid kit and include contents that can provide first aid to the injuries and/or medical conditions that are likely to occur when doing outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, and the like. As shown in FIGS. 10A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a gardening first-aid kit and include contents to provide first aid for injuries and/or medical conditions that are likely to occur during gardening. As shown in FIG. 11, kit 100 can be configured as a golf first-aid kit and include contents to provide first aid for injuries and/or medical conditions likely to be incurred while golfing. As shown in FIGS. 12A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a sport first-aid kit and include contents to provide first aid for injuries and/or medical conditions likely to be occurred when participating in a sport. As shown in FIGS. 13A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a pet first-aid kit and include contents that can be used to provide first aid for pets, such as dogs and cats. As shown in FIGS. 14A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a children's first-aid kit and include contents to render first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions likely to be incurred by a child. As shown in FIGS. 15A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a kitchen first-aid kit and include contents to render first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions likely to be incurred in a kitchen. As shown in FIGS. 16A and B, kit 100 can be configured as an auto first-aid kit and include contents to facilitate the rendering of first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions that may be incurred in an automotive setting. As shown in FIGS. 17A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a home first-aid kit and include contents to render first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions that typically occur in the home environment.

The various configurations of kits 100, such as those shown in FIGS. 8A-17B, facilitate the placement of kits 100 at strategic locations throughout a retail establishment. For example, the handyman kits can be located in areas of a retail establishment associated with tools and other implements for performing handyman type activities while the automotive kits can be located in an automotive area of a store. Similarly, the outdoor kits can be located in sections of a store that include items for use in the outdoors while the gardening kits can be located in areas associated with gardening equipment and supplies. The golfing and sports kits can be located in areas of a store associated with golfing and other sports activities while the pet kits can be located in areas of the store associated with pet products. The children's kits can be located in areas of a store wherein children's items are shown while the kitchen kits can be located in areas of a store associated with kitchen equipment. The home first-aid kits can be located also in a variety of locations within a store.

The use of kits configured for particular applications advantageously allows the kits to be located throughout various locations of a store so that a potential purchaser can come in contact with kits at numerous locations throughout their shopping experience. Moreover, the specialized or particularly configured kits can also be utilized in stores that are specialized, such as automotive stores, pet stores, kitchen stores, sporting good stores, children's stores, and the like.

The relatively small size of the kits along with their limited contents also may provide a cost advantage over the larger kits that are configured to provide materials for a larger range of applications. Reduced costs may facilitate impulse purchases by users such that more kits may be sold by having the kits tailored to particular activities or associated therewith. Additionally, the use of both a wide bottom 110 that allows the kits to stand upright in conjunction with the inclusion of the hanger opening 120 also facilitates a retail establishment displaying of the various kits they offer for sale at a variety of locations utilizing the existing display devices associated with those sections or areas of the store.

Kits 100 can also be configured for fundraising activities. For example, as shown in FIGS. 18A-21B, the kits can be configured for particular activities and sold as fundraisers by various organizations, such as the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the like, by way of non-limiting example. As shown in FIGS. 18A and B, a kit 100 can be configured as an active first-aid kit and used as a fundraiser and include contents that can facilitate the rendering of first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions associated with various activities, such as sports. As shown in FIGS. 19A and B, kit 100 can be configured as auto first-aid kit and sold as a fundraiser and include contents that facilitate rendering of first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions associated with automotive activities. As shown in FIGS. 20A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a fundraising pet first-aid kit and include contents that facilitate rendering of first aid to animals, such as cats and dogs. As shown in FIGS. 21A and B, kit 100 can be configured as a fundraising home first-aid kit and include contents that facilitate the rendering of first aid to injuries and/or medical conditions associated with the home environment. The indicia used on the kits 100 associated with fundraising can be different than that associated with the retail kits, such as those shown in FIGS. 8A-17B. Additionally, in some embodiments the fundraising kits 100 can include indicia associated with the organization for which the fundraising activity is being conducted.

Referring now to FIGS. 22A-25B, kits 100 according to the principles of the present disclosure can be configured as emergency preparedness kits. The emergency preparedness kits may include contents therein that vary depending upon the particular intent of the emergency preparedness kit and the desires of a purchaser of such kits. The emergency preparedness kits may include contents for flu and germ protection. The contents of an emergency preparedness kit may include masks of various types, such as NIOSH certified N95 masks, ear loop face masks, soft duckbill masks, and dust-type masks, by way of non-limiting example. The contents may also include vinyl protective gloves and hand sanitizers along with a guide regarding the prevention of the spreading of germs. Various configurations for kits 100 when in the form of emergency preparedness kits are shown in FIGS. 20A-25B and the contents therein can vary, as shown. The indicia utilized on the emergency preparedness kits can also include information associated with the purchaser or provider of the kit. For example, governments or other agencies may desire to purchase emergency preparedness kits and have their name included thereon such that recipients will know who provided the emergency preparedness kits. Furthermore, while the kits shown in FIGS. 20A-25B have various contents listed thereon, it should be appreciated that the contents can be varied or customized based on the requirements of a purchaser of such kits.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, construction of bag 102 will be explained. Each bag 102 can be formed from a single sheet of material 132. Sheet 132 can be cut from a larger roll of the material and can be imprinted with the desired indicia thereon. Sheet 132 can be transparent such that areas without printing can provide a window into interior cavity 116 so that the contents therein are visible from the exterior of the resulting bag 102. Sheet 132 can include the front indicia on one portion of it (portion intended to become front side 104) while the back indicia is on the different portion (portion intended to become back side 106). Notches 128 can be cut into sheet 132 prior to being formed into bag 102. Sheet 132 can be folded along multiple lines 134 to have various portions of the bag overlapping one another. Resealable mechanism 124 can be added to sheet 132 at the appropriate locations so that they align and can engage with one another when sheet 132 is folded and formed into bag 102. In some embodiments, resealable mechanism 124 is first attached to one portion of sheet 132 and is later attached to the subsequent portion, such as by heat sealing, during the forming of bag 102. The overlapping portions can be sealed together, such as by heat sealing, so that the bag 102 is formed with front and back sides 104, 106, a bottom 110, and an interior cavity 116 therein. Top 108 is not sealed during the initial construction bag 102 so that the contents can be added to interior cavity 116 to form the particular kit 100.

Once a bag 102 is formed, the appropriate contents can be added to interior cavity 116 through top 108 to form the appropriate kit 100 that corresponds with the indicia on the bag 102. After inserting the appropriate contents into bag 102 to form the desired kit 100, top 108 can be sealed closed, such as by heat sealing. The resulting kit 100 can then be packaged, such as in a box, and shipped to the retailer or organization purchasing the kits.

Kits 100 advantageously provide a relatively small package that may include a variety of different content to address a particular need for which kit 100 is designed. The limited nature of the contents of each kit 100 facilitates a relatively small size which can allow kit 100 to be conveniently stored by a user. For example, the kit 100 may be easily stored in a purse, automotive vehicle compartment, a cabinet around the house, a backpack, a boat, golf bag, gym bag, an off-road vehicle, and the like, by way of non-limiting example. Kit 100 being fluid-tight facilitates the allowing of the storage of kit 100 in a variety of locations without concern about the environment in which it is stored. For example, if kit 100 were to be stored in a wet environment, such as a marine environment, the exposure to water and the elements will not affect the contents within kit 100. Additionally, the flexible or non-rigid nature of bag 102 also facilitates the storage of kit 100 in a variety of locations where space may be at a premium or the configuration of the space may require that the kit be flexible. The inclusion of a resealable mechanism 124 can advantageously allow the contents of the kit to be accessed while allowing kit 100 to be returned to a fluid-tight condition after use. The resealable nature thereby facilitates the continued storage of the kit without concern for damage to the contents therein due to the exterior environment. Additionally, the resealable nature of bag 102 allows for the contents to be replaced, as needed, or to allow a person to add additional contents thereto while still maintaining the ability to reseal bag 102.

While kit 100 is described as shown with configurations for various applications and includes particular contents for the particular application, it should be appreciated that the contents therein can be varied from that shown and described. Additionally, the particular configurations or intended uses for kit 100 can also be expanded from that shown and described. For example, an emergency preparedness kit 100 can be configured as a survival kit and include contents such as food, water, a whistle and/or a compass, and the like by way of non-limiting example. Another type of emergency preparedness kit 100 may be configured as an earth quake kit and include contents such as food, water, reflective blanket, flash light and the like by way of non-limiting example. In still another example, an kit 100 may be configured as an emergency spill clean up kit and includes contents useful for containing and/or cleaning up a spill such as gloves and absorbent material by way of non-limiting example.

Providing kit 100 with application-specific contents allows various kits 100 to be stored and used in multiple locations rather than having a single, centrally located kit. For example, while a kit 100 having contents directed to use by humans generally may be stored at any location within a home or business, a kit 100 containing contents for use in an automobile may be stored in a glove compartment or trunk of the automobile. Likewise, a kit 100 for use during athletic or recreational activities may be stored in a backpack or on a bicycle to allow the contents of the kit 100 to be readily accessible during the athletic or recreational activity. The application-specific nature of the kit 100 allows a user to have multiple kits 100, whereby each kit 100 is directed to a particular application and can be located in a specific area for quick access during the particular activity.

As described above, the kit 100 is an application-specific kit. As such, a retail store may sell the kits 100 in various departments of the retail store. Namely, a first-aid kit 100 directed to use by humans generally may be sold in a Housewares Section of the retail store, while an automotive-specific kit 100 may be sold in an Automotive Section of the retail store. If the retail store does not include various departments, the kits 100 may be bundled and displayed in a common area, which allows the retailer to sell a bundle of application-specific kits 100.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A kit comprising: a flexible bag; and, a plurality of components in the bag, the components being selected from a group of components to make an application-specific kit, the group of components selected from the group consisting of first-aid items, germ spreading prevention items, emergency preparedness items, and basic survival items.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said bag is fluid-tight.
 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein said bag includes a closable opening.
 4. The kit of claim 3, wherein said closable opening is resealable.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein said bag is pneumatically sealed.
 6. The kit of claim 1, wherein said bag is self-standing.
 7. The kit of claim 1, wherein said bag further includes a hanger opening for detachably securing said bag to a hanger.
 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of components in the bag include items commonly used in a particular activity and the exterior of the bag includes surface indicia to indicate said particular activity.
 9. The kit of claim 8, wherein said particular activity is selected from the group consisting of handyman activities, outdoor activities, gardening, sports activities, pet care, childcare, kitchen-related activities, spill clean-up activities, automobile care and maintenance, home activities, and flu & germ protection.
 10. The kit of claim 8, wherein said sports activities include golf.
 11. The kit of claim 8, further including a retailer positioning said kit for sale in the area of a retail store where other products associated with said particular activity are also grouped for sale.
 12. A plurality of kits of claim 8, wherein said particular activity is different for each kit of said plurality of kits.
 13. The plurality of kits of claim 11, wherein said kits are bundled together and sold as an individual unit.
 14. The plurality of kits of claim 8, wherein said kits are bundled together and sold as a fund raising item. 